We profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus. There is no better way to prove ourselves his followers than to follow his example. He lived a holy life. Throughout his life, he deeply desired that all be converted from their evil ways and fulfill in their own selves what is expected of children of God. He wanted to see all living lives pleasing to God, just as he did.
We are the Body of Christ, who is holy. Everyday of our lives, we endeavor to move a step forward to becoming more holy. But we are not alone in the journey. We have our brothers and sisters journeying with us. As children of the one Father in heaven and as the Body of Christ, it is our ought to be concerned with the holiness of our brothers and sisters. In his ministry, Jesus made the first move to bring an errant person to conversion. Now, he gives us a course of action in dealing with an erring brother or sister. If a brother (or a sister, for that matter) does not realize his mistake, we must make the move. We need to take him aside and correct him in private. He must be convinced that he, indeed, committed a mistake, that he did something wrong and displeasing to God, and that he must repent and make amends. We do not condemn him but we want to win him to lead him to repentance and conversion. This is one most noble act of charity.
If the brother does not listen to us, then we should call for two or three others to help us admonish the brother to repent and change his ways. Again, we never condemn the brother who has fallen out of the way. All we want to do is to help him get back into the journey. Perhaps, this is where the power of intercession is most needed. For Jesus himself promised, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”
Still, if the brother does not right his life, the community comes in mercy and in charity to convince the wayward brother to repent, to do penance and to amend his life. But if he remains obstinate even before the community, then he disqualifies himself from being counted among the community. For we need to protect the holiness of the Body of Christ.
But the bottom-line of all these is charity, that brand of charity with which the good shepherd leaves the 99 to look for the one that is lost. Didn’t we say, we are followers of Jesus? This Jesus whom we follow seeks out the lost, those who wander away, never despising them. Let us make his move our move. Perhaps, we can begin moving from home?
14 years ago
1 comment:
To bring back a brother to the fold may mean dying to oneself,too, little by little. Yet, we are compelled to do so because we believe we are each other's keeper. And in the process, we, too, are sanctified. . .
"We are forever responsible to whoever we have tamed."
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